Evidence supporting the use of: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
For the health condition: Cardiac Arrest

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has some scientific evidence supporting its use in the context of cardiac arrest, though the evidence is relatively limited and not yet definitive. CoQ10 is a mitochondrial cofactor essential for cellular energy production and also possesses antioxidant properties. Scientific interest in CoQ10 for cardiac arrest stems from studies suggesting that after cardiac arrest, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage contribute to poor neurological outcomes and organ injury.

Several small clinical trials and animal studies have examined whether CoQ10 supplementation, often administered intravenously or orally after cardiac arrest, can improve survival and neurological recovery. For example, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in 2014 (N Engl J Med) found that patients who received CoQ10 after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest showed improved neurological outcomes compared to placebo, though the sample size was small and further research is needed. Preclinical studies support the idea that CoQ10 can reduce oxidative stress and apoptosis in brain and heart tissues after ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is a major component of damage after cardiac arrest.

However, large-scale, high-quality clinical trials are lacking, and current resuscitation guidelines do not include CoQ10 as a recommended therapy. Therefore, while there is scientific rationale and some early clinical evidence, the overall strength of evidence is modest, and CoQ10 cannot be considered standard care for cardiac arrest at this time.

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